Winning penalty scorer Lee Evans says he and his teammates were confident that they could still win yesterday’s game at Morecambe, despite finding themselves a goal behind at half-time, and were proved right as they fought back to claim a 2-1 victory over the division's bottom side.

Kieran Phillips put the Shrimps ahead in the 34th minute after the Blues had made a slow start to the game, but in the second half Town turned the game around with goals from George Edmundson and Evans's spot-kick.

For Evans, the confidence shown at the Mazuma Stadium is one example of a broader strength which has seen Town bounce back from their first league defeat of the season at Plymouth to win three in a row and keep the promotion push firmly on track.

When asked if the team knew they needed to step it up at half-time Evans said: “I think it came from us, really. I think we all knew we could do better. We had a confidence and we knew if we stepped it up then the game was still there for us to win, and thankfully that's what happened.

“It wasn't the prettiest of games but a hard-fought win and we take the three points home.

“They’ve been three completely different games, but that's what this league is about. You've got to come to places like this and get results if you want to be a successful team.

“Plymouth was a tough game. Probably one [from which] we didn't get the right result, but it's been three big responses. A big week, a great week with nine points, you take that and then another big game next week [at home to Lincoln].”

Town’s second half momentum wasn’t hit too badly by Conor Chaplin missing their first penalty in 36 games and 10 minutes later Evans himself got another opportunity from the spot.

“It's a tough one because it's never nice when you miss a penalty and then another one comes in the game. I think, as a penalty taker, it's nice if someone tries to take that pressure off you a little bit, so that's all it was,” he said when asked about the decision to switch takers for the second kick.

“I went to grab the first one for some reason, but then I realised Chappers is the penalty taker.

“I'll always put my name forward to take one, so it was probably just trying to take a bit of pressure off of Conor. It's going to be tough taking the second one after missing one and thankfully it went in.

“[Connor Ripley’s] a good size keeper, so it's just about making a clean connection, keeping my head over the ball and keeping it on target.

“It's a great feeling [when it goes in]. Especially on a day like today because it's my late grandad's birthday, so that one is for him.”

Quizzed on whether he’s now the club's penalty taker, the 28-year-old laughed: “Who knows? I’ll put my name forward, but we’ll see.”

The Welshman says it doesn’t matter who gets their name on the scoresheet as long as the Blues are winning: “It's not about me, Conor or the penalties, it's just about the result.

“It is important we get goals from all over the pitch and the first goal as well, great to unlock their defence with a set piece with Fridge [Edmundson].

“I think people are playing well, the team is playing well and we're getting good results, so long may that continue.”

Something that is evident in this Town team is everyone being happy to play their role. Despite Dominic Ball starting ahead of him against Cambridge, Evans understood Kieran McKenna's reasons and was ready to play his part when called upon at Morecambe.

Crucially, the team are happy to see teammates’ personal success on the pitch, as Evans explains.

“Everyone has come in and bought into what we're trying to do this season,” he said. “We were all ecstatic for Kyle [Edwards] in the week and how amazing he did, and today someone else, Fridge, scored the first goal. I think everyone is happy with each other and for us to be doing well, and long may that continue.

“It's a long season and the manager makes the decisions. I think the way he gives you the decisions and then talks to you about it, I don't think there's any need for bad blood or anything like that. I think people are happy.

“Woolfy [Luke Woolfenden] missed out today and it was another brilliant performance from [Richard] Keogh, who steps in and does amazing. So people step in, but it's just about the team.

“[Before the Cambridge game] it was a conversation myself and the manager had. He wanted to give me a little rest and it was obviously disappointing because it was a home game where in the end we had loads of the ball and it would have been a game that suited me, but I took my role. It's a team game and I thought Dom did really well.

“I got my 25 minutes and tried to make an impact and got a result in the end.”

Regarding his form this season, Evans continued: “I'm happy, especially with the start. I know there are areas I still need to improve, but there's more to come, especially in the last few.

“I’ll get myself going again and get that form right up again and hopefully have a really good season.”

Evans spoke to the media with his right eye starting to blacken up after being clattered by Cole Stockton in the latter stages.

“My kids are going to have fun playing with that,” he laughed. “It’s going to be a bit of a shiner, I think!”

Confidence isn't only growing within the squad, but with the fans too. Over 1,000 made the long journey to Morecambe and their support is making a difference to the team.

“They really are behind us,” Evans said. “They've been amazing. Obviously, we all know about the amazing support at home, but fair play. Especially at times like this at the moment with the prices of everything [being high], for them to travel all the way up here in their numbers as they always do is fantastic, and it does really mean a lot to us.”

Whilst fans may have been checking results from elsewhere as the game went on, Evans insists it's too early in the season for the players to be looking at results and tables themselves.

When asked if they come off the pitch asking about other scorelines, Evans joked: “No, but we have heard. We'll look at those on the way home, but we just control what we can control.

“I think what's the most pleasing is getting three wins this week. That was what we talked about before the game - how we could finish off this week in style and I think it's a bit too early to look at the league table.”

Photo: TWTD

Linkboy13 added 11:07 - Oct 9 Certain people on here at the start of the season were suggesting that we needed a twenty goal a season striker and one of the players mentioned was Cole Stockton so far this season he has failed to score. There is no such thing as a twenty goal a season striker potentially there is but it's not guaranteed. The goals tally collum suggests this is absolute rubbish.
7

Bazza8564 added 11:16 - Oct 9 Great call Linkboy, our goals are coming from everywhere! When you have one prolific striker, (unless its Haarland) teams will get wise and where do you go then? When your goals come from everywhere, theres simply no easy antidote!
3

Kingfisher49 added 11:44 - Oct 9 And having goals come from all over the pitch adds to the closeness and team spirit of the squad. Team spirit is high because everyone within the squad is contributing with good performances and goals plus good defending when needed. Our bench yesterday was stronger than any other in the division. 11 players are not going to win this league. It is a squad and a brilliant manager and backroom staff that will win it. Long May this confidence continue.

5

joyousblue added 14:51 - Oct 9 Linkboy that was one of the best messages I've read on here, just excellent opinion , and I agree, also what if we had splashed out on a striker , that was a big chunk out of our budget , and he got injured , and we had not got the amount of players we signed , because he had cost a huge chunk of our budget , would we have had the game changers we have now coming on , or would have been Norwood penny dozzel etc , linkboy one hundred per cent right

2

Stato added 14:59 - Oct 9 @linkboy I felt it was a major cock up not signing a striker who looked likely to score 20 plus league goals but in fairness to the club I couldn't see any obvious candidates and certainly not Stockton. You're right to say it hasn't proved to be a problem and the goals have been spread round and every chance we will get promoted without having anyone in the squad reaching 20 goals.

3

BobbyBell added 15:29 - Oct 9 If you lose your main goal scorer through injury it can be a major blow. The fact that we have several player scoring is a big bonus and even the subs (finishers) some on and score so goals can come from anywhere. Even Walton hit the bar with a header!!
2

Karlosfandangal added 15:57 - Oct 9 If you look at the Ipswich team of the 80's you had Mariner,Brazil,Wark,Gates we're the main scorers plus Muhren,Thijssen chipped in Town are scoring 2 a game on average so it not too important to have a 20 a season man as long as the team are scoring goals like they are. The Jan transfer window will be the time to get a 20 season man if it's needed…..think we are in with a chance of Haaland

2

Tampa_Florida_Blue added 19:15 - Oct 9 Regarding the 20 goal a season striker. I think we got one from Burton (my memory is bad sorry) but the 21yo Moroccan lad. At the time we bought him he was the leagues top scorer with 5 goals over 5 or 6 games. He looks very promising youngster.
0

churchmans added 08:31 - Oct 10 It was me who said we should sign COLE STOCKTON He has been 2bob firing blanks which is probably why he is still at morecambe I still think we should sign a prolific goalscorer if there is one out there! All the great teams have a striker! From comments I read on here it's like you can't have a scoring midfield team and a regular goalscorer! Why? Why can't we have a striker blazing it up along with an already scoring midfield!! How awesome would that be

0

Linkboy13 added 11:14 - Oct 10 You can't sign a twenty goal a season striker but you can sign one that potentially will get you twenty goals. A good example would be Joe Pigott who has failed to deliver after being prolific at Wimbledon who now occupys the bench at Portsmouth. It would probably cost up to five million pounds to get a player of the potential required to possibly do the job but it might be a expensive mistake and McKenna knows this. When we get promoted things will be different and to compete in the championship we will have to splash the cash. But at the moment McKenna is doing a fantastic job and there's no complaints from me.

3

churchmans added 12:45 - Oct 10 And none from me either
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls